July 8th

I received an email today from one of my Dad's Union colleagues with a link to the Healing Drum Ceremony on YouTube. I've embedded it here on the blog so that you can see it if you'd like. You may notice that my brother and I were absent at the ceremony. We had decided to go up to my Dad's room and spend some time with him while it was going on.
Things are still progressing slowly, but at least they are progressing. His Orthopedic Surgeon has ordered physical therapy for him, so that will more than likely begin tomorrow. My Grandmother was told that they planned to get him up and sitting in a chair tomorrow. We're not too sure how they plan to go about it, but that's their goal. I also spoke with Linda, and they told her that they'd like to get him to 'toe stand' tomorrow. I believe that may mean standing with his weight on his right leg and just using his left toes to balance.
His speech therapy session went well today from what I was told. He did well with the newer voice valve, it was much easier to understand him. He was asked several questions and was able to give the correct responses and answer if he was in pain or not.
He has been assigned a 'babysitter' in the form of a CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant). Her job is to basically sit in his room with him and make sure that he doesn't try to get out of bed or get too agitated since his nurse is assigned another patient besides him, plus at some point, they have to use the restroom and go to lunch. Interestingly enough, his CNA happens to be an extended family member of sorts.
We have been pretty lucky with regards to his caregivers. Most of them know him in some capacity outside of being a patient at the hospital. He has worked with many of them, from his nurses, to respiratory therapists, all the way to some of his doctors and speech therapists.
Early next week, he will be evaluated by three different Therapy facilities for transfer. His doctors would like to be able to transfer him into a rehab facility as soon as late next week. In order to do so, he will have to withstand three hours of therapy first. We aren't sure if that means three hours at a time or just three hours intermittently throughout the day.
His medications are being limited in order to get him fully awake, but his disorientation and agitation gets pretty bad, so ultimately, they end up medicating him again to keep him calm. I guess they are trying to find a happy medium so that we can get him up and going, but keep him comfortable also.